EHang EH216-S completes first public flight in Hong Kong

Chinese EVTOL maker EHang announced its EH216-S pilotless human-carrying electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft successfully completed its first public flight at Hong Kong Cyberport. The flight marked the first public demonstration since the first phase of validation flights began in mid-August under the HKSAR Government’s Low-Altitude Economy “Regulatory Sandbox X” Trial Project. It also represents a significant milestone in the development of a three-dimensional low-altitude transportation network and the validation of regular operations across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. During the demonstration, the EH216-S took off from the Cyberport waterfront vertiport, performing vertical take-off and landing, low-altitude cruise, and hover maneuvers along pre-programmed routes, demonstrating stable flight performance and autonomous flight control capabilities. From August 28 to 30, the EH216-S will continue to conduct multiple public flight sessions at Cyberport to further validate and demonstrate system reliability and safety performance of pilotless eVTOL aircraft under regular, high-frequency operational scenarios. EHang is working closely with Kwoon Chung Smart Mobility Company Limited and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited to advance commercialisation preparations under the project. Michael Wong, Deputy Financial Secretary and Head of the Working Group on Developing Low Altitude Economy, said: “Today’s inaugural trial flight of unconventional aircraft marks an important milestone in the development of Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy. We are grateful to Kwoon Chung, EHang and Cyberport teams for bringing this aircraft to Hong Kong. Building on the successful experience of the Low-altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox launched in March last year, the Government has subsequently introduced ‘Regulatory Sandbox X’ to test more complex applications. The first batch of 33 pilot projects has been undergoing tests in phases since the first half of this year, including four non-conventional aircraft projects. The Government is also studying dedicated legislation for non-conventional aircraft, with drafting work targeted for completion in 2027.” Simon Chan, Chairman of Cyberport, said, “The National 15th Five-Year Plan highlights the need to foster emerging industries such as the LAE, leveraging the LAE to lead the development of a more diversified digital and intelligent economy. Under the guidance of the HKSAR Government’s focus on developing the LAE, Cyberport actively supports the initiative as the venue partner for the Regulatory Sandbox, continuously enhancing low‑altitude flight support facilities and environments, supporting diversified application testing, and accumulating substantial operational data to accelerate technology translation and regularised applications.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]